Linux Mint is an open source project that provides users with a completely free and easy to use operating system based on one of the most popular free distributions of Linux, Ubuntu. It includes a plethora of applications for common daily tasks.

The best way to describe the Linux Mint operating system is to image a virtual container where we can install one of the Cinnamon or MATE desktop environments on top of a stable base of Ubuntu, and then add some tweaks and in-house built applications.

Linux Mint is known for being a very user-friendly distribution of Linux used by hundreds of thousands of people, especially those who hate the Unity user interface of Canonical’s Ubuntu operating system.

Distributed as 32-bit and 64-bit Live DVDs with Cinnamon and MATE editions

The project is distributed as separate Cinnamon and MATE editions, each one being available for download as Live DVD ISO images that can be deployed on both 64-bit and 32-bit architectures. Users can write the ISO images to USB sticks or blank DVD discs and boot the live environment from either one instead of installing it.

The boot medium has been engineered to boot automatically in 10 seconds, but advanced users can press any key to access the boot menu, which enables them to run a memory test or start an existing operating system from the local disk drive.

The same bootsplash software that is implemented in Ubuntu is also used in Linux Mint, but customized with the distribution’s logo. It is very important to mention here that both Cinnamon and MATE desktop environments are created by the Linux Mint developers.

Two amazing desktop environment and numerous attractive apps

While Cinnamon is a clone of the GNOME 3 desktop environment, the MATE project is a fork of the classic GNOME 2 desktop environment. Both editions include top-notch applications, such as Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird, Banshee, VLC Media Player, LibreOffice, Pidgin, Transmission, GIMP, and Synaptic Package Manager.

Bottom line

Summing up, Linux Mint is one of the most popular free operating system in the world. Many Linux users preferred it instead of the Ubuntu OS, especially because runs very well on low-end machines and computers with old hardware components.

Linux Mint was reviewed by Marius Nestor, last updated on December 6th, 2014